Yankees Pitcher Bryan Mitchell’s Rehab Progressing Well

New York Yankees swingman Bryan Mitchell is progressing well in his rehab from April surgery to repair a fracture in his toe.

24-year-old right hander Bryan Mitchell was the favorite to take over Adam Warren’s vacated long reliever and spot starter role in the Yankees pitching staff coming out of spring training. He pitched well all spring and even looked like a dark horse candidate in the battle for the fifth starter job when Ivan Nova and CC Sabathia were both struggling.

Instead of the breakout many were expecting, Mitchell injured his toe covering first base during the last week of spring training in a game against the Braves. He was diagnosed with a grade 3 turf toe and a fractured sesamoid bone in his foot. The issues required immediate surgery.

Mitchell had been told three days earlier that he had won a spot on the Yankees Opening Day roster for the first time in his young career, making the injury even more heartbreaking. When he received the diagnosis, Mitchell told Mark Feinsand of The New York Daily News:

"“It’s crazy. I’m not trying to be too roller coaster right now. Just have to roll with it. It’s just a bump in the road and we’ll get past it, hopefully quicker than later.”"

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As for the timeline for Bryan Mitchell’s return to the mound, Yankees manager Joe Girardi couldn’t be sure, but told Feinsand:

"“He will be out at least four months. We have to find out exactly what that four months means; is it he can begin throwing or he should be back? But it will be at least four months before we see him.”"

That quote is from the end of March, so four months would have Mitchell returning in late August. The good news is that everything seems to going well with his rehab. However, in a recent interview with George King of The New York Post, Girardi did not seem willing to commit to a 2016 return for Mitchell:

"“He has been throwing and he has started to run a little bit so I think it’s possible we get him back but not necessarily counting on it. His rehab has gone really well.’’"

If he does return this year, the Yankees still don’t really know what they have in Mitchell. He has excellent stuff (high 90’s heater, hammer curve, and cutter), but has had mixed results at the big league level.

Called up in June of last season to fill a short relief role, Mitchell had a 3.86 ERA/3.28 FIP and was striking out 9.43 batters per nine in 21 innings when he was struck in the face with a line drive and suffered a small nasal fracture. He returned to the mound two weeks later but wasn’t the same pitcher, finishing the year with a 6.37 ERA/4.75 FIP in 29.2 IP.

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While the Yankees shouldn’t be counting on Mitchell to save their bullpen this year, he is a valuable long term piece for them, so it’s a relief that his return to the field is going smoothly. Between his dominant spring and the 3.12 ERA/3.18 FIP he posted in 15 starts for the Triple-A Railriders last season, it’s not crazy to think Mitchell could be groomed for the Yankees rotation next year.